Freed from captivity in Syria, a freelance American writer is now said to be in friendly hands, transferred to Israel. Peter Theo Curtis had been held for about two years by Islamists in Syria before being unexpectedly released on Sunday. The circumstances of his release — whether any deal was cut, any ransom paid for the Massachusetts man, etc. — have not been disclosed.

“The news of Curtis’s liberation comes only days after ISIS murdered and beheaded American journalist James Foley.

“The New York Times obtained a video dated June 30 in which Curtis begged for his life and said he only had “three days left.”

“The United States and the U.K. have refused to negotiate ransom payments to Jabhat al-Nusrah and other groups, because they finance their operations through kidnappings. Some ISIS members have even bragged that they have enough money to “retire to Qatar,” after being paid ransom money for other hostages by various European countries.

“The Committee to Protect Journalists reports that Syria is the most dangerous country in the world for journalism, with over 67 journalists killed there since 1992.”

Reports indicate that Curtis is in good health and will soon be reunited with his family.